Venezuela: looming constitutional crisis over inauguration

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2013-01-08 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Senior members of the Church in Venezuela are opposing putting off the inauguration of ailing President Hugo Chavez. The Head of Venezuela's Conference of Bishops Monsignor Diego Padron says that to alter the country's Constitution is morally and ethically wrong. Both Vice President Nicolas Maduro and newly re-elected National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello agree that President Hugo Chavez can take the oath of office at some later date. Cabello says that leaders of friendly nations will attend the Thursday ceremony.The opposition coalition is planning a massive nationwide strike to coincide with the event. Nothing has been heard from Hugo Chavez, since his fourth cancer operation in Cuba on December 11th. It is known that he's developed post surgery pneumonia and is still doing very poorly. Listen to this report from regional correspondent James Blears: